ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 31 



instructively labelled. The portion kept in store is partly arranged, in glazed cases, in a 

 recess to which the public have not access, partly in drawers ; but, for the most part, 

 easily available to the student and scientific visitor. All the fossil specimens, whether 

 exhibited or in store, are in a good state of preservation. 



The major part of the series of Mineralogy is publicly exhibited, under conditions of 

 arrangement, with illustrative models and indices, and with generic and specific labelliiif, 

 greatly facilitating its instructive study and scientific applications. All the Minerals, 

 displayed and kept in store, are in a perfect state of preservation. 



Many of the fossils of the Mammalian and Reptilian classes have had their condition, 

 in respect of instructive display of characters, improved, since their reception in the 

 Museum, by careful removal of matrix, re-adjustment and cementing of separated frag- 

 ments. The most valuable additions are referred to in the Reports from the several 

 Departments of Natural History. Of the total number of additions in 1867, 81,228 have 

 been to that of Zoology, 9,156 to that of Geology, and 813 to that of Mineralogy. 



Richard Owen. 



Department of Zoology. 



The Collection of Zoology, which embraces all the various classes of the Animal 

 Kingdom, has been increased during the year 1867 to the extent of 81,228 specimens. 

 These may be divided in the following manner, to exhibit the different classes to which 

 each portion belongs : — 



Vertebrata 3,309 



Mollusca and Radiata ------ 4,426 



Annulosa .-.---.- 73,493 



Total - - - 81,228 



Each of the examples has been regularly marked with its date and number, and 

 entered in the manuscript Register of Accessions, with a record of the locality from which 

 the specimen was collected, and at the same time showing how it was acquired, 

 whether by donation or by purchase. 



Each specimen has been carefully selected from various Collections, when offered for 

 purchase, as being the most desirable for completing the series previously contained In the 

 Museum, or as exemplifying the various localities of the different species of animals on 

 the earth's surface. 



Many of them, also, are highly Interesting, as being the identical specimens from which 

 the new species have been described, and therefore extremely valuable as the types on 

 which the species have been founded by Zoologists. 



Other specimens have been selected as showing the changes which take place in the 

 several species during their development and growth towards maturity, or as Illustrating the 

 differences which exist between the allied species that belong to closely connected localities. 



The prepared skins of Vertebrated Animals, which are exhibited in the cases in the 

 public rooms for the instruction and amusement of the students and visitors, have been 

 cleaned and rearranged. 



The series of skins of Mammals and Birds, and the bones of the Vertebrated Animals, 

 which are kept In boxes ; the collection of entire animals preserved In spirits ; and the 

 collection of Insects, Crustacea, and Radiated Animals, which are contained in cabinets 

 for the use of the more scientific students, have been re-examined and cleaned; they 

 have likewise been re-arranged, both for the purpose of adding the new specimens, where 

 necessary, and for facilitating the means of access to the specimens, when required for 

 the purpose of study. 



Great attention has also been paid to the arrangement and nomenclature of the dif- 

 ferent portions of the Zoological Collections, so that the various classes of animals might 

 be arranged and named in accordance with recent advances In the knowledge of species. 



The number of students and visitors, for the special purpose of studying the various 

 portions of the Zoological Collection contained in the private rooms, and to the public 

 rooms on private days, has amounted to 2,502. 



The following catalogues have been printed during the year 1867 : — 



" Catalogue of Hemiptera Heterocera." Parts I., II., by Francis Walker, F. L.s. 

 " List of Birds. Part III., section III., Capitonldaj and PIcIdae." By G. R. 

 Gray, f.e. s. 



" Catalogue of Fishes, vol. vii., CyprinldEE Ciupeldje, &c. By Dr. A. Giinther, 

 F. R. s. . . 



The Collection of Mammals has been enriched by the addition of some most interesting 

 specimens. The following may be specially mentioned : — 



Specimens of the new species Lutranectes WTiitelyii, from Japan. 



A specimen of the " Barren ground bear," and skulls of Ovihos moschatus and Ovis 

 canadensis, from North America, presented by A. G. Dallas, Esq. „ ,, -r i i 



A number of skulls of Mammalia, from the Collectio:i of the late Dr. Van Lidtn de 

 Jeude, of Utrecht. 



A small collection of rare Bats, from the Berlin Museum. 



254. 4 '^ "^^^ 



